PlusBus route 812 is a circuit bus route in Greater London, serving Finsbury and Islington. Unusually for a bus route entirely in Greater London, it is tendered and subsidised by Islington London Borough Council rather than Transport for London, and is operated under a London Service permit. For this reason, buses used on this route are in a yellow livery, rather than the usual red, and it does not charge standard London fares. Oyster Cards are not accepted anywhere on the route (other than freedom passes). It is currently operated by HCT Group.
Despite the name, the route is not part of the Plusbus scheme.
The 812 was introduced by CT Plus in 2007. Together with similar route 816, it replaced a group of routes which previously ran under the Plus Bus name.[1]
Funding for the route was withdrawn at the end of 2007, leading to fears of cancellation, but local councillors stepped in to fund the route. The route now carries 27,000 passengers per year.[2]
The route was increased in frequency from two buses per hour to three in 2009. New 12-seat Volkswagen minibuses with Bluebird Tucana bodies were introduced to the route in 2010.[3]
The route was faced with withdrawal in 2011 due to Islington London Borough Council budget cuts.[4] To support the route, Transport for London provided additional funding.[5]
In March 2020, HCT Group temporarily withdrew the route as a result of low usage amid the COVID-19 national lockdown.[6]
Current route[]
Route 812 operates via these primary locations:[7]
(one way only)
